Street protests decline, but economic factors could change this - Kolokoltsev
MOSCOW. Sept 17 (Interfax) - The Interior Ministry has recorded a decline in street protest activity across the country so far this year, Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev said at his meeting with editors-in-chief of media outlets on Thursday.
"Overall, throughout this year, we have seen a decline in protest activity. Both the number of public events proper and the number of people involved have dropped [by 10.1% and 16.6%, respectively]. The number of protests not permitted by authorities has fallen by a third. However, for reasons that are fairly clear this situation could change, which is due to many processes, including economic ones," Kolokoltsev said.
The ministry is taking necessary steps to provide order during mass public events, the minister said.
"We don't see anything to prevent them being held in accordance with Russian laws. Nevertheless, the ministry is prepared for any scenario," the interior minister said.